CES 2008 Central Thread - Put Everything Here Please-

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by kamspy

Looks like wireless FPTVs are going to be a big thing at CES.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/03...-debut-at-ces/

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/03...ready-for-ces/

Expensive, and semi-useless!

More on the Westinghouse - notice initially B2B - not consumer:

"This is an eye opener. People are going to deeply desire this Westinghouse Digital Wireless HDMI HDTV in their living room as soon as they see it at CES," states Bruce Watkins, Pulse~LINK President and Chief Operating Officer. "We’ve been leading the technical pursuit of this for several years. Pulse~LINK has publicly demonstrated various wireless HDTV radio prototypes for some time, but nothing compares to the real thing when you finally see it. Actually watching this gorgeous Westinghouse High Definition television – with nothing coming out of the TV accept the power cord and a vibrant high definition image – is an experience beyond comparison with anything that has come prior to now. This really changes everything."

The Westinghouse Digital Wireless HDMI HDTV is scheduled to first appear on the market in Q2 2008, strictly for B2B digital signage usage. A timetable has not been announced for when it will be available for residential use.

http://dvd.themanroom.com/news/CES_W...less_HDTV/1874

[DVD+RW]

Dave Vaughn also posted this :

I have two concerns with BD...one is the moving spec on the players, which has bothered me from day one. This is causing confusion in the marketplace and I think will come back and bite BD in the rear end at some point, which is why when anyone asks me for a BD player recomendation, I always steer people to the PS3.

The other concern I have with BD is manufacturing based upon talking with people who work that side of the business. Not one mind you, multiple people.

As I have said here before and I have said at AVS and at Home Theater Spot...whichever format Warner supports, I will support. Right now I support both formats and I don't consider either of them perfect...both have flaws. HD DVD flaws are the spin rate and only having one major manufacturer of player limiting consumer's choice as to what manufacturers player to buy.

If Warner chooses BD, then that will cement the fact that they feel that the manufacturing issues I have spoken about are not big enough to worry about and I will trust them on their decision and support it. If they go the other direction, I will support that as well.

I 100% agree with this. It sums up all the concerns I have with Blu-ray and should Warner choose Blu-ray, I'm confident they have make sure that it will scale up to the demand when necessary.

[Lee Stewart]

Here is a good link that continues to be updated with all kinds of stuff to be seen at CES:

http://gizmodo.com/tag/ces-2008/

[edders]

Some 8x10 oled photo frames. And am anxiously awaiting for Canon's Rebel Xt? aka EOS 450d. Oh and can Canon release their 55-250 is lens in the U.S.?

Format wars, you mean 35mm vs digital?

[HNH]

Here's a nice expensive BR player profile 1.1

Guess it's for the high-class client that doesn't care what they're paying. Other than it only being 1.1 it has some nice specs.

Marantz America will demonstrate its ultimate-quality BD8002 Blu-ray Disc Player (SRP: $2,099.99) at CES 2008. The Marantz® BD8002 Blu-ray DVD player features the acclaimed 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset for the ultimate high-definition video resolution possible via HDMI 1.3 connection, as well as the finest possible audio performance, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The BD8002 will be showcased at the company's CES 2008 Open House at Mandalay Bay, and is scheduled for release in in the second quarter of 2008.

Unprecedented Video and Audio Performance
Marantz' new BD8002 Blu-ray Disc Player is designed to provide users with unprecedented levels of quality in both audio and video reproduction, plus exciting new interactive DVD playback features. It features an SD card reader for full interactivity, offering content providers a variety of options for adding enhanced content such as games, movie trailers and more.

Noted Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development, Marantz America, Inc: "With the launch of the BD8002 Blu-Ray player, Marantz is thrilled to be able to offer another high-performance option for those discriminating consumers in search of the enhanced enjoyment provided by HD content. Home entertainment enthusiasts in search of true cinema-like realism will find that the BD8002 is an ideal companion to any one of the Marantz’ highly acclaimed DLP projectors."

Thanks to it 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset, the BD8002 Blu-ray DVD player offers improved video performance with upconversion and IP scaling to 1080p. The pixel-by-pixel and Digital Noise Reduction feature afforded by this technology allows the player to remove image-degrading artifacts, resulting in absolutely clear, high-resolution images. Current Marantz customers who own one of Marantz’ highly acclaimed DLP projectors will be pleased to know that like the current DV9600, the BD8002 will also output 480i via HDMI. The player also offers High Resolution HD Audio with decoding of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio and is capable of outputting both 7.1-channel analog signals and PCM audio via HDMI. Finally, in addition to its compatibility with both Blu-Ray and DVD discs, the BD8002 can also handle VCDs, SVCDs, MP3s, WMA and DivX video files, and display JPEG images – making it the ideal solution for high-quality enjoyment of today’s many audio and video formats.

Secondary Video and Audio Decoders
In keeping with the guidelines mandated by the Blu-ray Association for BD-ROM version 1 Profile 1.1 players, the Marantz BD8002 incorporates a secondary audio and video decoder that allows for simultaneous playback of a secondary audio and video track which may be used for interactive audio and commentary and for picture-in-picture capability (respectively). Additional information (subtitles, audio streams, camera angles, trailers, games, etc.) can be downloaded from the Internet via computer and stored on a SD card that either player will accept. This content can be played with the original content of Blu-ray Discs.

http://www.avrev.com/news/0108/03.marantzbd226.shtml

[DVD+RW]

Originally Posted by HNH

Here's a nice expensive BR player profile 1.1

Guess it's for the high-class client that doesn't care what they're paying. Other than it only being 1.1 it has some nice specs.



http://www.avrev.com/news/0108/03.marantzbd226.shtml

Finally some player than can do DTS-MA to PCM conversion.

[Lee Stewart]

That Marantz sounds like a Denon Rebadge to me

[DVD+RW]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

That Marantz sounds like a Denon Rebadge to me

Does Denon to DTS-MA to PCM internally like Marantz?

[Lee Stewart]

DCX3400

The Scratch: Motorola is launching a new line of MPEG-4 set-tops designed for HD video and surround sound—DCX. They all rock 1GHz tuners (good for bandwidth-binging HD and VOD) and support whole home networking, which is useful for sharing DVR goodness. The DCX3400 (picture) is a dual-tuner HD DVR, while the DCX3200 is a single-tuner HD set-top and the DX100 is standard def set-top box. The Catch: Whether or not you'll see 'em on your shelf depends on your cable company.

http://gizmodo.com/340211/motorola-r...led-by-dcx3400

[kamspy]

Originally Posted by DVD+RW

Does Denon to DTS-MA to PCM internally like Marantz?

Nope. Lee's just being silly

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by kamspy

Nope. Lee's just being silly

You sure?

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3749.asp

[kamspy]

They look very similar. Point taken.

From what I could dig up, the Denon is HDMI only

I couldn't find anything regarding the Marantz outputs.

[DVD+RW]

Originally Posted by kamspy

Nope. Lee's just being silly

Actually Lee's right. I did read the product sheet (thanks Lee for posting the link) and it says it decodes both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA.
Maybe this is the reference player I've been waiting for all along; I guess we have to wait and see.

From what I could dig up, the Denon is HDMI only

There are component and analog 7.1 outputs on back of the player (I'm looking at the product sheet).

PS: Acually Kampsy, you are right about the lower priced model;it only features HDMI output.This model looks like a big rip off to me.

[Lee Stewart]

Denon:



Marantz:

[PFC5]

Denon & Marantz are owned by the same holding company called D&M Holding Co. It wouldn't make sense to have the same company make difference players that otherwise are the same spec.

I would get the Denon since it lists for $100.00 less.